Mum's valuables stolen as Dolphin Centre lockers are targeted

A BROMSGROVE mum who took her son and nephew for a half-term swim at the Dolphin Centre was shocked to find, when she got out of the pool, the locker containing her belongings had been broken into.

The bag was found dumped in the changing room but the purse, which had £50 in cash and her cards in, her house keys, her car keys and her £100 Samsung Galaxy mobile phone had all been taken.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said the theft - which happened between 1.55pm and 3.15pm last Tuesday (February 18) - left her feeling shaken.

"You just don't expect anything like this to happen.

"I was scared and didn't know what to do because I could not use my car.

"Luckily, there were two women there who gave us a lift home and I would like to say a very big thank you to them."

She said she was fortunate she had parked the car elsewhere and not in the Dolphin Centre car park because, if she had done that, the thieves would have been able to use the remote central locking to find her car and steal it.

The next day she went back to photograph the locker where the theft had taken place and, she claimed, she was able to walk into the changing room without even paying or being challenged by staff. She has now called on the centre to improve its security.

Jon Trevillion, the Dolphin Centre manager, said there was substantial damage to two lockers which had been targeted and a number of items belonging to the customers concerned were taken.

"This matter is taken very seriously and we reported the matters to the police on behalf of the customers concerned at the time."

He added the recorded CCTV footage of the reception would be passed onto the police and, in response to the incidents, posters had been put up around the centre to alert customers to be extra vigilant and staff patrols in the changing rooms had been increased.

"Customers have to access the centre and changing rooms by going past reception which is overseen by a member of staff.

"The reception area is also monitored by CCTV which is recorded 24-hours-a-day," said Mr Trevillion.

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said those using changing rooms should only take the essentials they need when they go swimming and should be vigilant to make sure that no-one is hanging around the lockers who should not be there as they may be watching people to see what valuables they are putting in there.

Any witnesses or anyine with any information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.